Coin actuated control mechanism



July 29, 1952 v. G. SMITH COIN ACTUATED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 iii?- f i 0 .2 w

Z 6 O I 2 T7 M INVENTOR. VmoraG. SMITH BY fl ATTORNEY July 29, 1952 v. G. SMITH COIN ACTUATED CONTROL MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1 944 INVENTOR. V/CTO/P & SMITH ATTORN E'Y July 29, 1952 Filed June 29, 1944 V. G. SMITH COIN ACTUATED CONTROL MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. G. SMITH VICTOR ATTORNEY July 29, 1952 G, sMn- 2,604,966

COIN ACTUATED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1944 5 SheetS-Shegt 4 DIME NICKEL PENNY Fig 5 INVENTOR. VICTOR SMITH ATTORN E Y Patented July 29, 1952 Victor G. Smith, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application June 29, 1944, Serial No. 542,708 4 Claims. (81.194

This invention relates to coin actuated control mechanism for vending machinesor the like.

In coin controlled vending, machines a purchaser may obtain an articleofpurchase by inserting a coin, token or, in some cases, a plurality of coins such as a nickel anda dime. Thesejare manufactured to receive a definite coin and will only operate by the insertion of that particular coin. If the machine is set to operate by the insertion of a dime, itwill not operate by inserting two nickels, ten pennies or a nickel and live pennies. Thus, the purchaser is'required to have the exact coin regardless of whether he has the required cash in different denominations.

It is, therefore, animportant object of this invention to provide a coin actuated mechanism for vending machines or the like which will operate by the insertion ofthe price of the article regardless of the denominations of the coins. Forexample, if the article costs ten cents, theipurchaser may operate the machine by either a dime, two nickels, ten pennies, or ,a nickel and live pennies. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide coin actuated control mechanism which, by simple adjustment, may be changed to be operated by a given amount at one time and another amount at another time. If the article costs ten cents at one time, the mechanism could be set to operate by the insertion of ten cents and, if the price of the article became twelve cents, the mechanism could be adjusted to be operated by the insertion of twelvecents, regardless of the denomination of the several coins totaling the given amount.

A further object of the invention is'to providecoin actuated control mechanism embodying an improved coin return arrangement which will permit a return of the coins atthe option of the operator at any time prior to the deposit of the last coin required to make the purchased item. 7

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accomp'anying drawingsin which Fig. l is a front elevational view of a vending machine equipped with a coin actuatedj control mechanism embodying aforni of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 show-inga portion of the machine and the operating mechanism of the control mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view showing'thc up the sales price of bodying the present invention 4 A I variety of different forms of vending machines or 2 control instruments mounted on the inside of the front panel. 7 Y n I n Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the coin counters illustrating diagrammaticallythe arrangement of coin chutes and the general location of control switches for controlling electrical circuits" by a which the lock release mechanism is actuated.v

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram illustrating the various electrical circuits for operating the machine; and V Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive are wiring diagramsillustrating the various combinations of switches which must be closed by various combinations of coin denominations before the release mechanism can operate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the invention has been illustrated therein as embodied in a coin actuated control mechanism applied to a vending machine. Byway of preliminary to description of the coin actuated control mechanism itself the illustrated form of vending machine will first belde'scribed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, that coin actuated control mechanisms emmay be applied toa the like. In the particular vending machine shown a cabinet I0 is provided having an'article containing compartment l2. A hinged lid [4 is arranged onthe upper surface of the cabinetand is preferably provided with transparent panelsl'l B to permit purchasers to see the articles in making a selection. The bottom is of the compartment I2 is arrangecl'on an incline with respect to the base'of the cabinet 10 to permit the articles therein to be fedby gravity tothe. lower edge of the bottom l8 and to the front of the cabinet.

The upper surface of the bottom is isprovided 'with a plurality of channel shaped trays 20 for perishable food product, such as milk.

The compartment l 2 has its walls insulated as indicated at Hand the transparent panels [6 are preferably made of spaced glass panels providing a dead air space 26 for insulating the upper portion of the compartment I2. Cooling coils 23 are arranged in the bottom l8 and are connected to a refrigerating unit (not shown) thl'OllghbOIlduit 32. Admin 344s arranged inthe lower 1 'corne'rof the compartment l2 to remove any condensation which might be formed therein; 7 The vending machine illustrated is particularly adapted for dispensing milk containersiz arranged in .rows for sliding movement in-' the trays 20. At the lower edge of the bottom l8 and in the line with the trays 20, are dispensing members 36 in the form of receptacles with an open side facing the containers 22 for the reception of a single container at the lower end of each row of containers.

The dispensing members 36 are slidable into and out of the compartment K2 in a plane normal to the plane of the trays 26; openings 38 being provided in the upper face of the cabinet through which the dispensing members ex-' :removed from the compartment 12, acarton is accessible toa purchaser through the open side as indicated in dotted lines of Fig. 2.

The dispensing members 36 are guided by downwardly'extending rods 44-secured to the bottom "of the members 36 adjacent their rear or open sides. These rods serve as stops for the cartons,

preventing downward movement of the row when the-members are withdrawn'from the compartment'lZ.

' A bracket 46 "extends transversely of the cabi- "net and'is secured to the sidewalls by bolts 48 securing the bracket 46 to angle members 50 secured to the sidewalls. The bracket 46 is provided with upper and lower bearings 52 and 54 respectively which receive the rods 44.

J ournaled in the bracket-46 is a transverse lock bar 56having oscillatory'mcvement in end bearings'58. -When the dispensing members 36 are in the compartment l2, the bar -56,-in its position shown in the drawings, engages notches 66 in the rods 44, looking all dispensing members against removal.

serted in'the coin controlled mechanism, the bar '56'is free for oscillation; When one rod is moved When the proper coin or coins are inlongitudinaliy, the bar 56 is swung out of the path of thenotches 66. This unlocks all dispensing members so that any one may be selected and withdrawn.

In orderto prevent the purchaser from selecting'and withdrawing more than one dispensing member by a single operation of the coin controlledm'echanism, there is provided an interlocking means which operates to look all members except'the one selected and partially withdrawn from the compartment. The movement of any i one member causes locking of all other members.

The bracket 46 is provided with achannel track '68'open't0ward the rods 44. A plurality ofballs 16 are received in the'track 68. These balls 10 are of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the rods 44. The track 68 is arranged with respect to the rods 44 such that the balls intersect the rods 44. Notches 12 are provided in therods'44 to permit the balls 10 to passthe rods 44.. when moved transversely thereof in the track Referring to Fig. '3, the end walls 74 ofthe track 68 are arranged insuch a manner, with respect to the end rods, that when the balls contact the endwalls, the center of the ball does not pass beyondthe center-of the rod. The number of ballsin the track are such that a space, indicated at 16, is provided. This space is of a dimension to permit one of the rods to pass between adjacent balls. When the balls 70 are in a position as shown in Fig. 3, one rod such as the rod 440. is free for movement and by its movement it causes the balls to spread into the path of all other rods, thereby locking them against movement by the balls engaging-the notches 12.

It will be understood'that when all of the dispensing members 36 are within the compartment l2, and unlocked by the lock bar 56, any one may be withdrawn regardless of the position of the balls T6 and that such withdrawal movement causes the selected rod to move the intercepting ball out of its notch, crowding the other balls to the left or right into tight engagement looking all other dispensing members against withdrawal. As long as one of the rods 44 is withdrawn, or partially withdrawn, that rod retains the bar 56 in its unlocked position. When the rod is returned to its closed position, the bar 56, under tension (by a spring not shown) to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, falls in the notches 66 and automatically resets the coin controlled locking mechanism.

Means has been provided to prevent the return of thedispensing member 36 into the compartment 12 until the dispensing member has reached its fully withdrawn position. This means comprises a wedge 18 carried in a notch '80 in the bracket 46. One end of the wedge 18 is journaled inthe notch 89 and its opposite end is received in a notch 82 in the red when the rod is in its locked position. A compression spring 83 urges the wedge toward therod 44. As the rod is moved outwardly, the wedge is swung upwardly with its-free end in dragging engagement with-the surface of the rod,'when the rod is'moving outwardly; but it isin binding engagement with the rod if attempt is made-to move the latter in the opposite direction. At the end of the rod 44 is a removable clip 84 which engages the wedge 1'8 and limits the outward movement of'the dispensing member when the rodis withdrawn to its outmost position. A notch 86 is providedto permit the wedge to drop below a p'osition'no'rmal'tothe axis of'th'e rod 44 so that the rod may be moved inwardly without binding on the wedge.

The bar 56 is normally 'held in the position shown on the drawings by a spring not shown, and is provided with alo'ckin'g member 166 which is rotatable therewith. The 'locking'member is provided with a notch I02 which receives a plunger I64. When the plunger 164 is 'i'nthe notch lll2,'the bar 56- is held against rotation and the rods 44 are locked by the'bar 56 engaging the notches 66 in the rods '44.

Referring now to the coin controlled mechanism embodying the present invention and herein illustrated as utilized for unlockingthe rods 44, I have shown a solenoid S! which when energ'ized, retracts the plunger 1'04 from the notch I02 permitting oscillation of the bar 56 when one of the rods 44 is pulled outwardlyof the vending machine. The solenoid SI is energized-by a series of electrical circuits which-are made by the insertion of theproper coins hereinafter more fully described. 7

In Fig. 4 there 'isshown diagrammatically the coin selectors, switches, solenoids and coin receptacles. The electrical connections between the several parts have not been shown in this view for the purpose of clarity but are shown in Fig.6.

,The form of the. device selectedfor illustrating one adaptation of the invention comprises coinselectors for each of three denominationscf coins which may be used and the following. description will relate to its use in dispensing articles costing fourteen cents. Three coin selectors are shown, one I06 to receive a dime, another I08 to receive a nickel and another H to receive a penny. These selectors are standard units of well-known construction and, perse, form no part of the invention other than in combination with associated parts of the mechanism. The function of such selectors is to separate slugs'or imperfect coins from good coins, rejecting the former and permitting the good coins to'continue through the operating mechanisml --'Ihe good coins are received in coin counters II 2 I14 and H6 where-they control switches to close certainelectrical circuits determined. by the-numberof coins received in-the coin counter. When'certain of the circuits are completedthe solenoid SI becomes energized and the plunger I04'is withdrawnfrom the notch I02. The bar 56 is then free to oscillate out of the notches 66 in the rods 44.

The coins remain in the coin containers until the operator has made a selection of one of the handles 42 and initially moves it outwardly of the machine. The initial movement of one of the rods 44 causes the lockingmember I00to oscillate. The outer periphery of the lockin'g'member I00 is provided with a raised portion II3 which closes a double pole switch CSI, one pole or" which completes an electrical circuit through a solenoid 82. The solenoid S2 operatesa gate I'in a coin chute I22. The coin chute I22 has two passages in its bottom wall, 'one passage I24 communicating with a container I26 open to the outside of the machine and one passage I 28 directed toward a coin receptacle I30 inside the machine.

'1 The gate I20 is normally positioned to direct any coins in the chute I22 to theconta'iner I26 accessible to the operator. Prior to the energization of solenoid S2, the coins may be returned as hereinafter more fully explained. When the solenoid is energized, it swings the gate I20 through rack and pinion I32, closing the passage I 24 to the outside of the machineand directs the coinsthrough the passage I28 to the coin recepltacle I30. Thesolenoid S2 has an extension I34 on its core which, during the final movement thereof,

closes a switch CS2 completing an electrical circuit through a coin release solenoid S3. This "delayed action'permits the gate I20 to close the: passage I24 before the'coins are released. When the solenoid S3 is energized it, acting through rackand pinion I36, raises one sidewall ofthe coinj counters I I2, ?I I4 and I I6 thereby releasing f thecpins therein to permit'thecoins to fallinto.

thecoin' chute I22. The. sidewalls of the coin "counters are hinged as" at I38and form one side'- wall of'the coin counter passages.

Prior to'the deposit of the last coin required to make up the selling price of theitem being .vended, the operator may operate a push button 3 PB' and all coins that have been inserted willbe returned through passage I24 to the outside receptacle I26. The push button PB completes an electrical circuit through a solenoid-S4 which "swings a sidewall of the coin selectors I06, I08

and H0 about the hinges I40 through the rack and pinion I4I releasing any coins therein.- The push button PB also'completes an electrical cir- -cuit through the solenoid S3 and aflnormally Assumingnow that the ,mechanismissetto branch chutes ceive a penny after chute I has beeninserted. The lower endof chutes I58, I60 and; contact controllingsupports or abutments (I64,

operate by a total value of coins equaling. fourteen cents, the circuitsfor the different denominations of :coins will be seen by reference to Figs. 5 to ;11 inclusive. There are four differentcombinations of coins which total fourteen cents; fourteen pennies, one nickel and nine pennies, two nickels' and four pennies, and one dime and four pennies. The last coin of any one of the .four combinations completes an electrical circuit through a control relay CRI which closes .the switch CRll, energizing the solenoid SI.

In Fig. 5 the coin chutes or passages have been diagrammatically illustrated and, except ,fortheir shape and location are similar to the usual coin chutes having spaced parallel sidewalls with guiding ribs therebetween forming the chutes.

A dimechute I42 has its lower end closed by, a contact controllingsupport I44. Preferably, the

.supportis a resilient abutment which supports a dime and is movablebythe weight, of thedime for closingthe terminals of a switchCOS6r The nickel chute, I 46 has itslower end closed by a:contact controlling, support or,abutment.l48 similar to the supportl44which by theweight of a nickel closes the terminals toa. switch ;,COS3. This chute I 46;-has a lateral branch chute 15,0 arranged toireceive a SBCOIIdaIIiCkCl afterthefirst nickel has been depositedrzinp the chute I46, the second nickel being deflected into the chute I50 by impinging upon the first nickelpositionedon the support I48. The chute I50 has its lowercnd closed by a contact controlling support I52similar to the supports I 44' and I48 which by, the

weight of the nickel. closes-the terminals topa switch cos5. While thechute I46 extendssubfstantially in a vertical direction, it is slightly offset at its lower end from the vertical in adirection opposite to the side of the chute I50 so that the second nickel will strike on one side of the top .centerpf the first nickel to direct the second nickel intothe chute I50.

y The penny chute I54 is. shown {having four 156.158, I60 andI62. The branch chute. I56 is substantially in verticalalignment with the chute I54 but is slightly offset in a direction opposite to the chute I58 so that,when, the

uppermost penny is in the chute I56, it will divert the next penny from the chute I54 into the, chute I58. The chute I60 is arranged on a sideof the chute I56 opposite to that of the ch ll e I56 and receives the next penny after the uppermcst penny in the chute I 58 has beeninserted. ,The

chute I62 is positioned beyond the chute I 00 to rethe uppermost penny in the I62 are each provided with I66, and I68.re'spectively which close the contacts ofswitches CQSI, COSZ. and COS4 respectively. The contact controlling supports I44, I52, I48, I68, I66 and I 64 with their respective switches are carried bodily by the swinging sidewallbf the coin counters II2, I I4 and H6 so that, when the coins are to be released by swinging'th'e sidewalls, the

bottoms of thecoin chutes are removed and the coins fall into the,chute I22..

In the form of the invention illustrated, the

dime chute I 42 is constructed to receive one dime,

and thenickel chutes I46 and I50 one nickel each.

Thepennychute I58, holds five pennies, chute I56 holds three, chute I60 holds five and chute I62 holds one. As the coins are fed into their -a position for -'receptacle I30. The finalmovement of theextenswitch C084.

Reierri-ng toFigs fi'toll inclusive, the operation of the machine by any of the various combinations of coins to total fourteen .cents. will be more fully understood. It the'purchaser should desire to use fourteen pennies, the fourth penny closesswitch COSI the ninth closes switch COS-2 and the'iourteenth closes switch 0084, thus completing an electrical circuit from a source of electrical energy through the control relay CRl. This circuit is illustrated in Fig. 7. If the operator should select a nickel and nine pennies, the nickel closes switch CO S3,'thefourth penny closes switch CO'SI'and the ninthpenny closes switch COS2, thus completing an electricalcireuit through the control relay CRI as illustrated in Fig. 8. When two nickels and four pennies are used,ithe first nickel closes switch C083, the secondhickel closes switch [C085 and thefourth penny closes switch COS! completing the circuit through the control relay CR1, illustrated in Fig. 9. When a dime and four pennies are used, the dime closes switch COSS and the fourth'penny closes switch COSl, completing the circuit through the-control relay 'The control relay CRI closes the switch CRl energizing the solenoid -Sl ior releasing the plunger- H15 and opens normally closed switches CR1 and CRI for preventing operation of coin release mechanism, controlled by the release button PB, after the plunger 1M has been withdrawn.

. The machine is now in condition for the operator to remove the article of purchase. The initial movement of the rod 44 causes rotary movement of the locking member Hill andthe raisedportion -I I8 closes the double pole switch CSl completing an electrical circuit through solenoid :52 which immediately-swingsthe gate 'l20 from its position for directing coins to the containers {26 to directing the coins into the com s'ion 134 of the solenoid core closes switch CS2 to complete a circuit through the coin release solenoid $3. This releases the coins in the coin counters'l 12, I14 and H6 and they fallinto the funnel shaped coin chute 122 wherethey enter the coin receptacle 1-30 through passage- 28.

It is to be noted that when the normally closed switches CR! and CPL-t are open the solenoid S l does notoperate to release the coins from the coin selectors Hit, me and H0 but that hath solenoids S3 and S4 operate to release the coins from the coin selectors [06, P88 and 'IHJ andthe'eoin counters H2, H4 and'l'lfi when thep'ushfbutton-PB is operative.

The double pole switch .has .been provided to complete a' circuit through I solenoid S2 through one pole and another circuit through the control relay CRi. This is to maintain the control relay CRI energized after the coins 'ha' ve"b'een"released and the switches COS! to COS-6 inclusive thereby 0pened i I After the operator haswithdrawnadispensing member from the machine and removes the article of purchase therefrom, the return movement of the dispensing member opens the double :pole

switch CSI. We reverse rotation ofwthe locking member caused by the notch. 6:5 'lihEjiQdJ engaging the bar "56. The solenoid "Sills-then de-energized and the plunger HM engages-the notchlflZ. 1 'Theabove description relates to the-operation of the machine by coinshaving a total value of fourteen cents. However, means has been PIO- vided for readily changing the circuits and coin travel so that the machine may be set to operate by different total amounts comprising anycombination of coin denominations. For example-ii the article is sold for thirteen cents, a peg is insertedin an opening A, Fig. 5, so that thefirst penny, as it enters the chute 456, is positioned above the peg. For twelve cents, the peg is placed in the opening 3; for eleven, in the opening c; and for ten cents, in-opening- C and an additional pegis placed in the opening D of chute 158. When the pegs are in the openingsC and D, it is necessary to maintain the switch COS! normally closed. 1

If the machine is to be operated by coins totaling from nine cents to one cent, the leads-t0 C084 are removed and placed on C082, theleads to C082 having been removed and connected together forming a direct connectionpelfween 008i and C083. Thisisillustrated in;,-Eig. l1. Operation of the machine :by nine pennies is caused by the first threepennies falling in chute 1-56 and the iourthin chute {58, closingswitch COSi; the pegs having been removed. next four pennies fall in chute 1.58 and the .ninthin chute I closing the switch COSE. If a nickel and four pennies are used, the nickel enters chute HS, closing switch C053. Tl1ree-penniesehtfi chute. i 55 and the fourth enters chute 458, closing switch COS l and. completing the connection through control relay CRI. l

The operation of the device on values of eight. seven and six cents is throughthe sameswitches as described for nine cents except that .a .peg is placed intheopening A for eight cents,;. in Bio): seven cents andinCiorsixcents.

For a value of five cents. switchCOSl issho rtcd retaining the sameconneotions as shown in Fig.

single nickel closes C053 completing'the connection to controlrelayPCRi. p I

. For values below a nickel,"the.short across the switch COS! is removedso that-itispperablehy the first penny to fa1liinehute'l58;

Values of four, three, .two andzone cent ,{Inay cause operation when'the switch- C053 .is shorted.

For opera-tionlhy four pennieskall .pegsEa're removed, the first threefenter chuteflififiiahd the fourth closes: switch LCOSJ completing itiie connection to controlrelay CRI. .a'jpjg .is placed in opening A, the third pennyclose's switch COS]; whenlthe'peg is in opening'B, thesecond penny closes switch COSi;,and when the peg Iis 'in-opening C, the first ,penny'closes switch COS]. I :From the above it will .be seen that themachi ne can be readily set .to operate for any-value from one to fourteen cents and any -selecte d .dc

nomination of coins. totaling any one -of,-. ;the values will-cause its operation.- I I Having in mind the generalconstruction and various adjustments provided, anoverallianalysis .75 :o'f'the arrangement employed-in thezcoin actu- 9 ated control mechanism will be useful. For that purpose let us first of all assume the simple case in which the pegs C and D are in place (Fig. and the coin switch COSI held closed, all as heretofore described, to condition the mechanism for operation on a total sales price of ten cents. With such a set-up there are, it will be perceived, what may be termed three main chutes I42, I46 and I54 for each of the several denominations of coins. Communicating with each of these vmainchutes, except the chute I42 for the highest denomination coin, is a branch chute adapted for the automatic diversion into it of the last of a predetermined series of coins dropped into thecorresponding main chute. Such branch chutes are shown as I50 and I62. Basically the arrangement is such that the last coin entering any lesser denomination main chute (I46 or I54) to make up atotal equal to the value of the highest denomination is diverted into the branch chute mentioned. Thus in the case of the lesser denomination main chute I 46, the second nickel dropped into it is diverted into its branch chute I50, since this secondnickel completes a total value of ten cents. Similarly, the tenth penny dropped into the penny chute I54 is diverted into its branch chute I62.

It will be appreciated that with the arrangement as so far analyzed, entry of an appropriate coin into the dime chute I42 or into one of the branch chutes I50 or I62 indicates the deposit in the mechanism of the same total value of coinage, namely, ten cents. Consequently, a set of what may be termed main switches are arranged to be actuated by such coins, these being shown as coin switches C086, COS5 and C034 heretofore described. Actuation of any one of these three main switches serves to operate the control device shown as the solenoid SI, through the agency of the control relay CRI, as heretofore detailed.

It is to take care of the somewhat more complicated situation in which coins of two lesser denominations are dropped into the mechanism to make up the total of the highest denomination that a set of what may be termed auxiliary switches are included. These are shown as the switches C082 and COS3 heretofore described. There is such an auxiliary switch for each of the lesser denominations of coins and it is arranged to be actuated upon the receipt of the number of coins required to make up the value of the next to the highest one of the series of denominations of coins for the entire series. In the present instance the next to the highest value is five cents and accordingly the auxiliary switch C052 is arranged to be actuated upon the deposit of the fifth penny, while the other auxiliary switch C083 is arranged to be actuated upon the deposit of the first nickel. The auxiliary switches are correlated in such a manner (connected in series as shown in Fig. 6) so that upon their simultaneous closure they will serve to effect energization of the main solenoid SI as an alternative to closure of one of the main switches COS4, COS5 and COS6.

It is to take care of situations in which the total sales price is not a whole number multiple of any but the least coin in the series that what may be termed a supplemental chute and supplemental switch are included. The supplemental chute is shown as I56 and the supplemental switch as the coin switch COSI. Upon removal of the peg D the supplemental switch COSI is adapted to be operated in response to the deposit of one, two, three or four pennies,

10 depending upon which one, if any, of the three pegs A, B and C is used." Then by making closure of the supplemental switch COSI a condition precedent to actuation of the main control device or solenoid SI by any one of the main switches, or by conjoint action of the auxiliary switches, the special condition is taken care of in which the total sales price is not a whole number multiple of any but the least denomination coin. It is to be understood that various changes including the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and it is not my intention to limit its scope other than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a coin actuated device for receiving coins of a given denomination having a plurality of inter-communicating chutes each for receiving in sequence a predetermined number of coins, a hinged member forming a sidewall for said chutes, resilient supports carried by said hinged member forming closure ends for respective ones of. said chutes, control devices operable in response to the movement of respectiveones' of said resilient supports when a coin is received on a corresponding one of said resilient supports, and means for swinging said hinged sidewall away fromsaid chutes to free any coins therein.

2. In a coin actuated control mechanism for vending machines or the like, the combination of a plurality of main chutes each adapted to receive coins of respectively different denominations, all of said main chutes except the one for the highest denomination coin having'a corresponding branch chute communicating therewith and arranged for the automatic diversion into such branch chute of the last of a predetermined series of coins entering the main chute, a plurality of main coin switches arranged with one disposed to be actuated by a coin dropped into the highest denomination chute and the others for actuation by coins received in respective ones of said branch chutes, each chute except that for the highest denomination coin having an auxiliary switch associated therewith and operable in response to the receipt of the number of coins required to equal the value of the next to the highest denomination coin in the series, a control solenoid, and means for energizing said solenoid in response to the actuation of any one of said main switches or of all of said auxiliary switches simultaneously.

3. In a coin actuated control mechanism for vending machines or the like, the combination ofa plurality of main chutes each adapted to receive coins of respectively different denominations, all of said main chutes except the one for the highest denomination coin having a corresponding branch chute communicating therewith'and arranged for the automatic diversion into such branch chute of the last of a predetermined series of coins entering the main chute, a plurality of main coin actuated devices arranged With one disposed for actuation by a coin dropped into the highest denomination chute and the others for actuation by coins received in respective ones of said branch chutes, each chute except that for the highest denomination coin having an auxiliary coin actuated device associated therewith and operable in response to the receipt of the number of coins required to equal the value of the next to the highest denomination coin in the series, a control device, and means for actuating said control device: in response to the actuation of any one of said main coin'actuated devices or of all of said auxiliary coin actuateddevices: simultaneously, r

4. In a coin actuated control mechanismfor vending machines or the like, the combination of a plurality of coin receivers, one for" each of a consecutive series of denominations of United States coins beginning with a penny as the least coin in the series, a plurality of coin actuated devices operable respectively in response to the receipt of each coin deposited in each of said receivers except for the penny receiver, a plurality of additional coin actuated devices associated with said penny receiver, adjusting means for effecting actuation oione of-said additional devices in response to the deposit in said penny receiver of from one to four pennies as determined by the setting of such adjustable means, means for effecting actuation of the remainder of said additional devices in response to the deposit in said penny receiver of respective different multiples of five pennies in addition to the number preset by said adjustable means, a control device, and means for operating said control device in response to actuation of any'combination of various ones of said coin actuated devices corresponding to a predetermined total value of coins.

VICTOR G. SMITH.

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